Choosing an ISO 45001 Certification Body

A JAS-ANZ accredited ISO 45001 certification body is an independent organisation assessed and authorised by the Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand to audit occupational health and safety management systems and issue ISO 45001 certification.

JAS-ANZ is the government-appointed accreditation authority in Australia. Accreditation confirms that a certification body meets international standards for competence, impartiality, and audit quality. Through the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), JAS-ANZ accredited certificates carry international recognition. They’re accepted by government procurement bodies, business partners, and regulators in Australia and many other countries.

ISO 45001 replaced OHSAS 18001 in 2018. The transition deadline was September 2021, after which OHSAS 18001 certificates were no longer valid. ISO 45001 introduced a more structured, risk-based approach to occupational health and safety management. Key differences from OHSAS 18001 include:

• Greater emphasis on worker participation in identifying hazards, reducing workplace injuries, and improving safety practices.
• A stronger requirement for top management to demonstrate leadership and an organisation’s commitment to worker safety and wellbeing.
• A common High Level Structure that makes it easier to integrate ISO 45001 with ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and other ISO standards.

If your organisation is still operating under OHSAS 18001, that certification is no longer valid – Citation Group can guide you through the transition.

ISO 45001 certification is valid for three years from the date of issue.

During that period, your ISO 45001 certification body conducts annual surveillance audits, typically in years one and two. These audits verify that your OHSMS continues to meet the requirements of the standard and has been effectively embedded across the business. At the end of year three, a full recertification audit reassesses your entire OHSMS. Organisations that view certification as an ongoing commitment to improvement, rather than a one-time achievement, generally find recertification much easier.

An occupational health and safety (OHS) policy is a statement of intent. ISO 45001 certification independently verifies that your occupational health and safety management system meets an internationally recognised standard.

Where an OHS policy sets out your commitment to workplace safety, ISO 45001 certification requires evidence of:

• Documented risk assessments and hazard identification processes.
• Worker participation in safety management and ensuring compliance with safety standards.
• Internal audits, management reviews, and performance evaluation.
• Continuous improvement against clear objectives, with ongoing monitoring of performance over time.

For procurement, supply chain, and regulatory purposes, accredited ISO 45001 certification carries significantly more weight than a policy document alone. It also provides a competitive advantage that a statement of intent can’t deliver.

Yes. ISO 45001 requires organisations to identify and assess all workplace hazards, including psychosocial ones such as stress, fatigue, and burnout.

For businesses that want to go further, ISO 45003 provides dedicated guidance on managing psychological health and safety risks within an ISO 45001-aligned system. This is increasingly relevant in Australia, where every state and territory now requires employers to explicitly identify, assess, and control psychosocial hazards. If your workforce faces high psychological demands, make sure this is captured in your OHSMS and your approach to risk assessment.